Chimney liner construction device



Oct. 31, 1961 c. A. DENNIS CHIMNEY LINER CONSTRUCTION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR.` l m66 I I Filed March 8, 1960 Oct. 3l, 1961 c. A. DENNIS CHIMNEY LINEE CONSTRUCTION DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1960 III'I Oct. 31, 1961 c. A. DENNIS CHIMNEY LINER CONSTRUCTION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 8, 1960 INVENTOR. I @3m/ ff tl/m.

United States Patent O 3,006,054 CHIMNEY LINER CONSTRUCTION DEVICE Clarence A. Dennis, 127 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill.

Filed Mar. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 13,527

3 Claims. (Cl. 25-131) This invention relates to a device for constructing a chimney liner, and more particularly to a device which will facilitate the construction of a concrete chimney liner in spaced relationship within the chimney column. It is an object of this invention to provide such a device.

Modern concrete chimneys are built with a structural outer column of reinforced concrete. This structural outer column which is of generally circular cross section must, however, be protected from the heat and corrosive effects of the flue gases. -In order to accomplish this, a liner of masonry, steel or other suitable material is ernployed, and this liner is constructed in sections subsequent to t-he construction of the outer column of the chimney. To effectively protect the concrete outer column of the chimney from the corrosive and heat effects of the ue gases, a space is provided between the liner and the chimney column. This space may not only act as an effective heat insulator between the liner and the outer column, but also, if unblocked, any corrosive flue gases which may enter this space between the liner and the chimney outer column may be vented therefrom.

One of the -masonry materials used in the construction of chimney liners is concrete. However, if concrete is used for the construction of the liner, problems arise when attempting to provide a fully eifective, fully ventilated air space between the liner and the surrounding chimney column. One of the main difiiculties is in achieving the proper uniform spacing between the form into which the liner sections are poured and the surrounding chimney column. It is possible to place insulating materials between the liner and the column; but if this is done, the space between the liner and the chimney column may not be uniform and cannot be properly ventilated, and

the form may not be easily raised for the next section 40 of the liner. In addition, in a large chimney of several hundred feet in height the amount of insulating materials,

would be quite substantial and unnecessarily add to the cost of the chimney.

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide a device which will permit the construction of a concrete chimney liner in spaced relationship within the chimney column, in order to completely protect the surrounding chimney column from the heat and corrosive effects of the flue gases.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a device which will facilitate the construction of a concrete chimney liner with a ventilated insulating space between the liner and the outer column of the chimney, thereby eliminating the need for costly insulating materials which may tend to block the free ventilation of lthis space.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which will facilitate the sequential construction of the sections of a concrete chimneypliner and which will maintain the proper spacing between each successive section of the liner and the surrounding chimney column.

It is another object of this invention to provide a form device within which the concrete for each successive section of a chimney liner may be poured in order to provide a uniform liner structure in proper spaced relationship within the surrounding chimney column.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a chimney Vliner forming device which may be quickly and easily raised into proper position for the pouring of the next section of the liner after the previous section has hardened.

Other objects will be seen and a fuller understanding ICC of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The device constructed in accordance with this inven- 5 tion permits the construction of a concrete chimney liner in sequentially formed, superposed sections Within the outer column of the chimney. This device comprises a plurality of curvilinear inner and outer form sections or plates. Means is provided for releasably connecting the inner form sections together to form an inner annulus of predetermined, preferably cylindrical, shape; and the curvilinear outer form sections are arranged in an outer annulus surrounding the aforementioned inner annulus within the chimney column, Means intermediate the inner form sections in the inner annulus and the outer form sections in the outer annulus maintains a predetermined and uniform spacing between these sections, and thus the completed liner will be of uniform cross section. An adjustable positioning mechanism mounted on the exterior of each of said outer form sections releasably engages the chimney column, and these mechanisms properly position the respective outer form sections in uniform, spaced relationship from the chimney column. Each of the aforementioned elements is of importance in producing a liner of uniform dimension in proper spaced relationship within the surroundingchimney column.

One of the features of this invention is the novel adjustable positioning mechanism which is associated with each of the outer form sections. When the outer and inner form sections are in position for the pouring of a section of the chimney liner, these adjustable positioning mechanisms are moved into engagement with the surrounding chimney column, thereby properly spacing the outer form sections from the surrounding column and insuring a uniform spacing of each section of the liner from that. column. After the section of the liner has been poured and permitted to harden, the positioning .means is moved away from engagement with the surrounding chimney column, and the inner and outer form sections may be raised into position for the pouring of the next successive section of the liner.

With reference to the drawings: FIGURE 1 is an elevation View, partially in section, of a reinforced concrete chimney, illustrating the relationship between the chimney liner and the surrounding outer column of the chimney;

FIG. 2 is a top sectional View of the chimney taken substantially along line 2 2 of FIG. `l;

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of a portion of the device constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating the means intermediate the inner and outer form sections` for maintaining the predetermined spacing therebetween, and also illustrating the adjustable positioning mechanism for properly spacing the outer form sections l from the surrounding chimney column;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the device after a section of the chimney liner has been poured;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the adjustable positioning mechanism which properly spaces the attached outer form section from the surrounding chimney column;

FIG. 6 illustrates the adjustable positioning mechanism in its extreme expanded position;

FIG. 'Z is an enlarged top plan view, partially in section, of the expanded adjustable positioning mechanism illustrated in FIG. 6 and taken substantially along line 7-7 of that gutre;

FIG.8 is la. sectional elevation view of the device constructed in Iaccordance with this invention illustrating the device in proper position for the forming of a section of the chimney liner;

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation view of a device 00nstructed in accordance with this invention illustrating a modified adjustable positioning mechanism; and

FlG. is a sectional view of the modified adjustable positioning mechanism taken substantially along line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

With more particular reference to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is illustrated a chimney 10 having a base or foundation 12, a structural outer column 14 of substantially circular cross section, and a liner 16 also 'of substantially circular cross section.

This invention relates yto a device 17 for facilitating the construction of the liner i6. The outer column 14 of chimney 10 is preferably constructed of reinforced concrete, and the liner 16 is adapted to protect this outer column from fthe adverse effects of theheat yand corrosive constituents of the tlue gases. To provide maximum protection for the outer column it is very desirable to have an space 18 between the liner 16 and the outer column 14, and this air space should be large enough to permit the ventilation thereof. If, however, the liner 16 is to be formed of concrete which is one of the masonry materials adaptable for such purpose, it is difiicult to achieve lining uniformity and to provide the proper spacing Vbetween the liner and the chimney outer column. The device :17 facilitates the construction of the concrete lining in spaced relationship within the chimney outer column.

The device 17 comprises a plurality of curvilinear inner form sections 2l) connected together to form an inner annulus or cylinder. A plurality of outer form sections 22 are connected together to form an outer annulus or cylinder circumjacent the inner annulus of interconnected inner form sections 20. The inner and outer form sections 20 and 22 are preferably formed of `thin steel sheet metal, and each sheet or form section is between 8 and 9 feet in height. One of the lateral edge portions 20a of each of the inner form sections 26 is recessed inw-ardly, and one of the lateral edge portions 22a of each of the outer form sections is recessed outwardly. Thus, when the inner form sections are interconnected to form the inner annulus, a smooth exterior surface: fis provided; and in like manner, when the outer form sections 22 are 'assembled to form the outer annulus, a srnoot-h inner :surface is provided. The surfaces of the liner 16 which are formed between the inner and outer sections are thus smooth. Cables 23 attached to each of the form sections by shackles 23a permit the vertical positioning of the form sections.

Attached to the inner surface of each of the inner form sections 20 is a plurality of substantially channel-shaped hooklike elements 24. A plurality of circumferentially adjustable circular supporting member 26 formed of steel rod or bars are disposed within the hooklike members 24. These circular elements 26 are adjusted to approximately the diameter and circumference which will give proper outwardly directed support to: the inner form sections 20. The disposition of these circular rods or bars within-'the hooklike members 24 not only provides an effective outward support for the inner form sections 20, lbut also in effect connects these sections together. Severalhorizontal rows of the hooklike members 24 are preferably provided for each inner form section 20. One such row is disposed `adjacent the top edge of each inner form section 20, and another row is disposed adjacent the bottom edge thereof. The number of intermediate rows of 'these members and the number of circular elements 26 `in each row will 'be dependent upon the outwardly directed 'support desired for the sections. Y

Bolted adjacent lthe `top edge of each of the inner form sections 20 and extending radially outward toward the cooperating, correspondingly positioned outer form sections 22 is a radial bar 28.l The length of `radial bar 28 vis substantially equal to the desired thickness of the liner which is to be produced between inner formfsections 20 and Vouter form sections '22. 'Ihis bar provides the predetermined spacing between the top edges of respective vacciones form sections. As will be further described herein, the spacing between the bottom edges of the form sections is maintained by the previous section of the liner 16 which is slightly overlapped thereby (see FIG. 8). For the bottom edge spacing in the formation of the rst section, a concrete spacing block may be employed.

Bolted or otherwise attached to each of the outer form sections 22 is atleast one channel-shaped rib 30. The number of ribs actually employed will depend upon the width of the outer form sections and the support desired for the section. Preferably the ribs are 0n 14 or 16- inch centers. The rib is vertically disposed, that is, it is disposed parallel to the axis of curvature of the inner and outer form sections 20 and 22, and it extends substantially the entire height of the outer form section to `effect maximum reinforcement thereof. Connected to the top end of rib 30 is an outwardly extending, horizontally disposed, apertured iiange plate 32.

Connected to channel-shaped rib 30 are four identical radius arms 34, 36, 38 and 46. In the illustrated cmbodiment parallel arms 34 and S6 are pivotally connected to rib member 30 adjacent the top end thereof by means of 'a pin 42, the axis of which extends horizontally or normal to the axis of the curvature of outer `form section 22. Radius anns F38 and 40 are connected adjacent the opposite end of channel-shaped rib 30 below arms 34 and 36 by means of a pin 44 which extends parallel to pin 42, that is, normal to the axis of curvature of outer form section 22. A substantially channel-shaped support member 46 which is parallel to rib member Si) is pivotally attached between the ends of the radius arms 34 and 36 by means of a pin 48 and between Kthe ends of arms 3S and 40 by means yof a pin 50. Radius arms 34, 36, 3S and 40 are all parallel to each other as are the pivot pins 42 and 44 and the pivot pins 48 and 5t) which connect these arms to the rib member 30 and the supporting member 46, respectively. The parallel farm connection permits channel-shaped supporting member 46 to be moved simultaneously in the vertical and the horizontal or radial directions with respect to rib member 30 and assures that these members will remain in parallel relationship, regardless of their relative adjustments with respect to one another.

Attached to the bottom end of channel supporting member 46 `is an inwardly extending, horizontally disposed, apertured flange plate 52 which corresponds to andis parallel to the flange plate 32 at the top end of rib 30. An internally threaded nut 54 is welded to the flange .plate in alignment with the aperture therein, thus providing internal threading as desired for the purposes which will be hereinafter described.

In order to provide the desired adjustment of channelshaped supporting member 46 with respect to channelshaped rib member 30, an elongated operating rod 56 is provided. Welded or otherwise firmly ailixed to one end of the operating rod 56 is a shoulder bolt 58 formed of Ltwo internally threaded hexagonal nuts 60 and 62 interconnected by means of an intermediate, substantially cylindrical shank 64 of reduced cross section. Shank 64 is disposed within the aperture in top flange plate 32 which is attached at the top end of channel-shaped rib ,member 30. The aperture in flange plate 32 is somewhat larger than the diameter of shank 64 but is smaller than the outside diameter of the. hexagonal nuts 6d and 62 of the shoulder bolt 58. Thus, the shoulder bolt 58 and the operating rod 56 connected thereto may be freely rotated within the aperture of flange plate 32, but axial movement of the operating rod and of the shoulder bolt with respect to the flange plate is prevented. The operating rod y56 extends downwardly through the apertured plate 52 on the bottom of supporting member 46 and Ithreadably engages theinternally threaded nut 54 attached thereto. It is apparent that the rotation of the shoulder bolt58 and of the operating rod 56attached thereto will cause corresponding movement of nut 54 upwardly or downwardly on operating rod 56, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shoulder bolt. Since nut 54 mounted on ange plate 52 is connected to the supporting element 46, this element will also move upwardly or downwardly with respect to the operating rod 56 and with respect to flange plate 32 and rib member 30 as the shoulder bolt 58 is rotated. The vertical movement of supporting member 46 will be accompanied by radial movement of that member away from or toward the rib member 30 depending upon the direction of rotation of the shoulder bolt. Since the rib member 30 extends substantially the entire height of the outer form section 22 to which it is attached, top flange plate 32 with the shoulder bolt 58 journaled therein will be conveniently disposed adjacent the top edge of the outer form member 22, and the shoulder bolt may be readily manipulated to position supporting member 46 as previously described.

In operation, after the previous section of liner 16 has been poured and has been permitted to harden, shoulder bolt 58 is rotated in a direction which will cause the movement of supporting member 46 downwardly and inwardly with respect to rib member 30 on parallel arms 34, 36, 38 and 40. Thus the inwardly directed pressure on rib 30 on the corresponding outer form section 22 and on the corresponding inner form section 2li is relieved. The outer form sections 22 with the rib members 30 and the supporting members 46 attached thereto may then be raised as a unit by means of cables 23 into position for the construction of the next section of liner 16. The inner form sections 20 may then also be raised as a unit into position. Each section of the liner 16 is approximately 71/1 feet high, and the inner and outer form sections, which as previously indicated are between 8 and 9 feet in height, are raised 71/2 feet for each successive section, and thus the bottom edges of these sections overlap the previously formed section of the liner by between about 1/2 and 11/2 feet, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

After the inner and outer form sections have been thus re-positioned, the shoulder bolt 58 on each of the outer form sections is rotated until the supporting member 46 is moved upwardly and outwardly into rm engagement with the inner surface of the surrounding chimney column. The radial movement of supporting member 46 is, of course, restricted because the bottom of outer form section 22 overlaps the top edge of the previously poured and hardened section of the liner. Thus, once the spacing between the chimney column and the liner has been established by the first section of the liner, this spacing remains exactly the same for each succeeding section of that liner. Supporting member 46 remains parallel to rib member 30, and the spacing between these members adjacent the bottom edge of the outer form section 22 will be identical to that between these members adjacent the upper edge of section 22. Thus, after the rst section of the liner has been poured and hardened, the proper spacing has been determined, and for each succeeding section the shoulder bolts 58 need only be tightened in order to properly position the supporting member 46 with respect to rib member 30 on each form section.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the parallel arm arrangement is eliminated, and in place of channel-shaped rib 3) an enclosed wedge-shaped rib 66 is attached to the exterior surface of outer form section 22. Wedge-shaped rib 66 is tapered from bottom to top; that is, the widest portion of this rib is adjacent the bottom of the outer form section 22, and the narrowest portion of this rib is adjacent the top edge of the outer form section.

A similarly constructed but oppositely tapered wedgelike supporting member 68 is adapted to `cooperate with rib 66 in order to provide the desired degree of radial adjustment between the two members. A plurality of side plates 40 attached to the sides of member 68 extend inwardly and are adapted to receive wedge-shaped rib 66 therebetween, as best illustrated in FIG. l0. These side plates guide the movement'of supporting member 68 in the vertical direction, parallel to the axis of curvature of outer form plate 22, and maintain the ysupporting member 68 in proper wedging contact with wedge-shaped rib member 66. The weight of supporting plate 68 provides a tight wedging action between rib 66 and the outer column of the chimney and provides outward support for the outer form section 22 to which rib member 66 is attached. The angle of taper of supporting member 68 is complementary to that of rib member 66, and thus the exterior edge of supporting member 66 which is in contact with the chimney column is parallel to the inner surface of rib member 66 which is attached to outer form member 22. The distance between the outer form member 22 and the surrounding chimney column is established in the rst section of the liner 16 and in each succeeding section supporting member 68 is merely placed in position and permitted to move axially by its own weight into a position in which it tightly wedges the bottom of the respective outer form plate against the top edge of the already hardened previously poured section. After the section has been poured and permitted to harden, the supporting member 68 is raised by means of cable connections 68a, thus releasing the pressure on the inner and outer form sections 20 and 22 permitting these form sections to be moved up into the next position for the pouring of the next section of the liner 16, as previously described.

There are many possible, readily apparent modiiications of the embodiments herein illustrated and described. For example, various other somewhat more elaborate and less easily manipulated wedging arrangements may be employed in order to achieve inward support between the outer form section 22 and the surrounding column of the chimney. Such wedging should, however, be such that once the spacing has been set between the liner 16 and the outer column 14, this spacing will remain constant and automatically determined for each succeeding liner section. The structure of and the connections between the various outer and inner form sections may be altered somewhat, and the inner form sections may be supported by diametric supports in place of the circular bars or rods 26, as described herein. The circular bar or rod construction for the inner form section support is quite convenient and permits these sections to be easily removed and replaced. It also provides the maximum working area adjacent the form sections. The parallel arm construction of the preferred embodiment connects the support member to. the outer form section and provides a very convenient means for manipulating and positioning the support member without the necessity for additional hoisting devices.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that many modifications and changes in various details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for use in the construction of a liner within a chimney column, said device comprising a plurality of curvilinear inner form sections, means for releasably connecting said inner form sections together to form an inner annulus, a plurality of curvilinear outer form sections adapted to form an outer annulus circumjacent said inner annulus and within the chimney column, means intermediate said inner form sections in said inner annulus and said outer form sections in said outer annulus for maintaining a predetermined spacing therebetween, each of said outer form sections having an elongate rib member externally attached thereto, said rib member being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of curvature of said outer form section and extending substantially the height of said section, a plurality of radius arms mounted on said rib for pivotal movement about axes which are substantially normal to the axis of curvature of the corresponding outer form section, and elongate axial supporting member pivotally attached to said radius arms and movable on said arms toward and away from engagement with the chimney column, and means adjacent one edge of the corresponding outer form section for controlling the pivotal movement of said radius arms and the corresponding movement of said supporting member, whereby the annulus of said outer form sections may be removably positioned in spaced relationship with respect to the surrounding chimney column.

2. A device for use in the construction of a liner within a chimney column, said device comprising a plurality of curvilinear inner form sections, means for releasably connecting said inner form sections together to form an inner annulus, a plurality of curvilinear outer form sections adapted to form an outer annulus circumjaeent said inner annulus and within the chimney column, means intermediate said inner form sections in said inner annulus and said outer form sections in said outer annulus for maintaining a predetermined spacing therebetween, each of said outer form sections having an elongate rib member externally attached thereto, said rib member being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of curvature of said outer Vform section and extending substantially the height of Said section, a plurality of radius arms mounted on said rib for pivotal movement about axes which are substantially normal to the axis of curvature of the corresponding outer form section, an elongate axial supporting member pivotally attached to said radius arms and connecting said inner form sections together to form an inner annulus, a plurality of curvilinear outer form sections adapted to form an outer annulus circumjacent said inner annulus and within the chimney column, means intermediate said inner form sections in said inner annulus and said outer form sections in said outer annulus for maintaining a predetermined spacing therebetween, each of said outer form sections having an elongate rib member externally attached thereto and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of curvature thereof, said rib member extending substantially the height of said section and having an outwardly extending apertured flange adjacent one end, a plurality of radius bars mounted on said rib member for pivotal movement about axes which are substantially normal to the axis of curvature of the corresponding outer form section, and elongate axial supporting member pivotally attached to said radius arms and movable on said arms toward and away from engagement with the chimney column, said supporting member having an inwardly extending, threaded, apertured ange adjacent the end thereof farthest from the said one end of said rib member, an elongate threaded operating rod journalled for rotation in the ange of said rib member and prevented from axial movement with respect thereto, said rod being in threaded engagement with the apertured ilange on said supporting member, whereby said supporting member may be moved relative to said rib member by rotation of said operating rod and the annulus of said outer form sections may be properly and removably positioned in spaced relationship with respect to the surrounding chimney column.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 856,952 Hahn July 11, 1907 969,212 Sobel et al Sept. 6, 1910 1,466,830 Hayward Sept'. 4, 1923 1,556,720 Saner Oct. 13, 1925 2,394,261 Reichard Feb. 5, 1946 2,739,364 Clemans Mar. 7, 1956 

